Antihero-Term

Antihero.



Definition---**__a protagonist or notable figure who is conspicuously lacking in heroic qualities__**

Pronunciation

From //Haunted// by Chuck Palahniuk

//"Cora Reynolds, she's nobody's fool. Nobody pushes her around. A detective arrives with a boy hanging under one arm, the girl hanging under his other arm. The man heaves them both on the desk, and the crowd surges forward, clutching the pink silicone legs. Nobody knows who are the real crazy people. And Cora, she's holding a gun, the evidence tag still hanging off it on a string. The case number written there. She waves the gun at the two dolls. "Pick them up," she says. "And come with me."//

__Relevant analysis__: This will only be said in the first analysis of these three texts because it corresponds to all three. The most effective way of determining the nature of a character as antiheroic is too analyze with the positive heroic qualities in mind that the character lacks. Comparison is the key. Cora in this excerpt is not noble, or selfless, or law-abiding---it appears that she stole some evidence to use for her defense and is in conflict with the authorities. She is a notable figure who is conspicously lacking in heroic qualities.

From //The Catcher in the Rye// by J. D. Salinger

//"I kept sitting there getting drunk and waiting for old Tina and Janine to come out and do their stuff, but they weren't there. A fifty-looking guy with wavy hair came out and played the piano, and then this new babe, Valencia, came out and sang. She wasn't any good, but she was better than old Tina and Janine, and at least she sang good songs. The piano was right next to the bar where I was sitting and all, and old Valencia was standing practically right next to me. I sort of gave her the old eye, but she pretended she didn't even see me. I probably wouldn't have done it, but I was getting drunk as hell. When she was finished, she beat it out of the room so fast I didn't even get a chance to invite her to join me for a drink, so I called the headwaiter over. I told him to ask Valencia if she'd come to join me for a drink. He said he would, but he probably didn't even give her my message. People never give your message to anybody."//

__Relevant analysis__: In this excerpt, Holden Caulfield exhibits a lack of heroic qualities, even though he is the central character and protagonist of the novel. Caulfield is rebellion incarnate, and seeks to break the many illusions of the world with his simple observations. He's rude, drunk, and profane, spitting out a little meme of wisdom aloof and casual at the end. Caulfield is a notable figure who is conspicuously lacking in heroic qualities, mainly respect, humility, and self-control.

From //Brave New World// by Aldous Huxley

//"He opened the book at random.

In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, Stew'd in corruption, honeying and making love Over the nasty sty...**
 * Nay, but to live

...His heart seemed to have disappeared and left a hold. He was empty. Empty, and cold, and rather sick, and giddy. He leaned against the wall to steady himself. Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous...Like drums, like the men singing for the corn, like magic, the words repeated and repeated themselves in his head. From being cold he was suddenly hot. His cheeks burnt with the rush of blood, the room swam and darkened before his eyes. He ground his teeth. 'I'll kill him, I'll kill him, I'll kill him,' he kept saying..."//

__Relevant analysis__: This excerpt is about a Caucasian boy who was born on a Native-American reservation called John. He is rage and he is discontent, and he is central to the dissolution of the consumer based world society of 2540 A.D. John is extreme and intense. He is not respectful or compassionate. He is the Devil when looked at from Society's standpoint, but is nevertheless a harbinger of great good. He is a notable figure who is conspicuously lacking in heroic qualities, mainly compassion, understanding, forgiveness, and balance.